Machine for forming clothes-pin blanks.



No. 767,448. PATENTVED AUG. 16, 1904. A. SMITH. MACHINE FOR FORMINGCLOTHES PIN BLANKS.

APYLIOATION FILED NOV. 18, 1903.

N0 MODEL.

Patented August 16, 1904.

UNITED STATES ATnNT @mica ANDREI/V SMITH, OF TRAVFRSE CITY, MICHIGAN.

MACHINE FOR FOFIIVIINC- CLOTHES-PIN BLANKS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 767,448, dated. August16, 1904.

Application filed November I8, 1903. Serial No. 181,675. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom, it may concernf Be it known that I, ANDREW SMITH, a citizenof the United States, residing at Traverse City, in the county of GrandTraverse and State of Michigan, have invented certain new ecient machinefor this purpose operating4 at very high speed; and it consists in thefeatures of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter fullydescribed and claimed.

In the-accompanying drawings. illustrating vmy invention, Figure l is avertical longitudinal section of a machine constructed in accordancewith my invention. Fig. 2 is a detail transverse section of same, on anenlarged scale, on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a detail section onthe line 3 3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a detail section on the line t I ofFig. 2.

My invention relates to that class of machines in which blocks ofrequisite size are fed consecutively and forced between knives whichserve to shape such blocks to form the clothes-pin or other blanks ordevices, as desired.

The main object of the present invention is to provide a simple compactmachine which is easily fed and operates with great rapidity andefficiency, and to this and other endsI provide at one end of themachine a feed-belt A, trained over pulleys suitably journaled in theframe of the machine and which serves to feed the blocks into a verticalchute B.

In order to prevent said blocks from being fed irregularly, I providetwo rotating drums C and D above said belt, beneath which said blocksmust pass into said chute B. The said drums are provided withlongitudinal ribs E and are revolved slowly, so as to force the blocksin a direction opposite to that in which they are carried by the belt,the drum C being so located as to retard the main body of blocks, butallowing sufficient space underneath for the passage of several layersand the drum D being so located as to prevent the passage of more thanone layer of said blocks. Said drums alsol serve to preventthe blocksfrom passing into the chute B at an angle. A

Said chute B opens into a horizontal chute F at its lower end and feedsthe blocks consecutively into the path of a reciprocating plunger Cr,entering said chute F at one end and serving' to force said blocksconsecutively through the shaping devices H, interposed in said chute Fand which will be hereinafterv more fully described.

The speed of said belt A is so regulated relatively to the speed of theplunger Cr as to feed the blocks faster than said plunger can force samethrough said chute F, so that said belt slips relatively to saidblocksand by its friction serves to force same down said chute B. Thisaction also has the effect of serving to hold said blocks parallel andin contact with each other. After passing between said shaping devices Hsaid blocks pass intoa chute I, which is curved upwardly and vfeeds saidblocks upon a belt J, which carries them into a second vertical chute K,said belt J being also arranged to travel faster than said plunger Gdrives said blocks. The said chute K delivers said blocks into a secondv horizontal chute L and into the path of a reciprocating plunger Mtherein, which forces said blocks consecutively between a second set ofshaping-knives N, interposed in said chute L. Said blocks beingrectangular, are shaped on two sides in said chute F and on theother twosides in said chute L, from which they are delivered.

By means of side plates or guards on each side of the belts A and J andthe side walls of the chutes said blocks are held against endwisemovement.

The said plungers Gr and M receive their motion from a drive-shaft O,journaled in the frame of the machine between the two sets of sliapersand are connected with eccentrics P on said shaft by means of pitmen ina wellknown manner. Said belts A and J are geared to said shaft O in anysuitable manner.

The blocks are cut to requisite lengths and diameter before being fed tothe machine, the latter serving' to cut away the four long sides at oneend to form the head and neck, as shown in Fig'. 2. .In order toaccomplish this, the said blocks, which fit loosely in said chutes, mustbe firmly held and fed to the shapingknives uniformly. To this end lprovide a plunger Q, passing through one of the side walls of each ofthe chutes F and L, said plung'ers being' rounded at their inner endsand held by springs R in the path of one end of the blocks and serving'to force same endwise as they pass into contact with the opposite wallof the chute. After passing' said plunger Q in either chute said blockspass under a plate S, located opposite the ends of the shaping-knives T,entering the chute at one side and adapted to cut away the end portionsof said blocks. Said plate S is pressed down upon said blocks by meansof spring-actuated pins U, passing' through the upper wall of the chute,said pins being' engaged by the ends of a flat spring V, through themiddle of which a set-screw Y passes which enters a threaded opening inthe top wall of the chute. The said plate S by its pressure on the otherend portions of the blocks serves to practically equalize the resistanceto the passage thereof exerted by said shaping'- knives T, so that saidblocks are thus prevented from turning endwise. The said knives are heldin position by means of set-screws X, bearing thereon, the cutting'edges of said knives being' located opposite openings Y in the upper andlower walls of the chute, through which the shavings are discharged.

claim as my invention-- l. In a machine of the kind specified, thecombination with two sets of forming-knives each mounted in a horizontallchute and simultaneously consecutively operated plungers adapted toforce blanks through said forming-knives to form opposite sides of saidblanks in each of said knives, of means for feeding blanks into the pathof the first of said plungers and means for transporting' the blanksfrom said first horizontal chute and feeding same into the path of saidsecond plunger including means for turning said blanks throug'h on arcof ninety degrees, whereby said second forming-knives will form thesides of said blanks which said first set of forming-knives did notform.

2. In a machine of the kind specified, the combination with a horizontalchute,formingknives interposed therein, and a reciprocating plungermovable in said chute, of a vertical chute entering said. horizontalchute between the limits of' movement of said plung'er and adapted tofeed blocks in the path of the latter to be carried therebyconsecutively to said forming-knives,asecond horizontal chute,forming-knives interposed therein and a reciprocating plunger movable insaid second horizontal chute, a vertical chute entering said. secondhorizontal chute between the limits of movement of said plunger movingtherein and adapted to feed blocks in the path of the latter to becarried thereby consecutively to said forming -knives mounted thereinand means for receiving' said blocks after passing said firstforming-knives and turning' them through an arc of ninety degrees anddelivering the same to said last-mentioned vertical chute.

3. In a machine of the kind specified, the combination with ahorizontalchute, formingknives interposed therein and a reciprocating plungermovable in said chute, of a vertical chute entering said horizontalchute between the limits of movement of said plunger and adapted to feedblocks in the path of the latter to be carried thereby consecutively tosaid forming-knives, spring-actuated devices interposed in the path ofsaid blocks adjacent said forming-knives for automatically adjusting theposition thereof relatively to said knives, an ogee-curved chutereceiving said blocks after passing said forming-knives and carryingthem upward and delivering same upon a carrier, a second vertical chutereceiving said blocks from said carrier and delivering same into asecond horizontal chute, a second pair of forming-knives in said secondhorizontal chute, and areciprocating' plunger in said chute in the pathof which said blocks are fed by said vertical chute to be forced throughsaid second pair of forming-knives, substantially as described.

4. In a machine of the kind specified, the combination with a chuteadapted to receive blocks to be formed, and forming devices interposedin said chute in the path of said blocks, of means for forcing saidblocks past said forming devices, a yielding plunger entering said chuteat one side and projecting into the path of said blocks at one end forforcing same into contact with the opposite wall of the chute at theirother ends, and a yielding presser-plate interposed in said chute inalinement with said forming devices and bearing upon the upper faces ofsaid blocks to equalize the resistance of said forming devices to theirpassage.

5. In a machine of the kind specified, the combination with two sets offorming' devices, and means for forcing' blocks therethrough, ofcarrying' means for transporting' said blocks from one of said sets offorming devices to IOO IIO

the other thereof, Vsaid means including two In testimony whereofIaiX mysignature in chutes and n Carrier interposed between the presence of twowitnesses.

same receiving said blocks from one chute and ANDREW SMITH delivering'same to the other thereof, said eerrier being regulated to travel festerthan said Vitnesses:

blocks to prevent jamming thereof, substan- RUDOLPH WM. LOTZ,

tially as described. l E. F. WILSON.

